4 years. 4 Governors.

2013: Chris Christie

Our streak began in 2013, as part of New Jersey Governor Christie’s re-election team. In 2009, we helped Gov. Christie defeat the incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine, despite being outspent 3-to-1. He became the first New Jersey Republican to win statewide in more than a decade.

Four years later, in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by 700,000, Jamestown Associates played a key role in Governor Christie’s overwhelming victory in a deep blue state. The Governor won a majority of the votes of women and Hispanics and even made gains with younger voters and African Americans. And Jamestown won a number of awards for our work.

2014: Charlie Baker

In 2014, Republican Charlie Baker and Democrat Martha Coakley were in a dead heat in the race for Governor of Massachusetts. Through a series of uplifting ads crafted by Jamestown Associates, Baker focused on bipartisanship, the economy, and his successful record in both private and public sectors. The ads showed the authentic Charlie Baker as he crossed the state, engaging voters across party lines.

On election night, Charlie Baker emerged as the first Republican Governor of heavily Democratic Massachusetts in over a decade by narrowing the gender gap and receiving a good share of Independents. PPP noted that Baker had the highest favorable rating of any statewide candidate of either party in a contested election anywhere in the country.

Jamestown’s work on behalf of Charlie Baker was recognized with a prestigious Pollie Award for “Best In Show.”

2015: Matt Bevin

After winning a nail-biter of a primary race, businessman Matt Bevin overcame the odds and became the Republican choice for Governor of Kentucky.

Jamestown’s TV ad campaign focused on Matt Bevin as a family man, outsider small businessman, U.S. Army veteran, and a “Real-Deal Conservative,” offering a fresh start for Kentucky.

In the general election, Bevin’s positive message as well as a perfecty-timed testimonial from his wife, Glenna, resonated with the voters, who elected Bevin by a convincing 9-point margin.

Bevin became only the second Republican in 44 years to win Kentucky’s governorship, and his running mate, Jenean Hampton, became the first African American to hold a statewide office in the Bluegrass State.

2016: Chris Sununu

Bush, Clinton, Sununu. Famous political families. Only Sununu won.

Executive Councilor Chris Sununu was the son of the former Governor and White House Chief of Staff John H. Sununu, and the brother of former U.S. Senator John E. Sununu. In a cycle where voters revolted against political “dynasties,” how could Chris Sununu possibly win?

Jamestown Associates focused on defining Chris on his own terms – a successful businessman with New Hampshire values. Democrats spent millions attacking the Sununu name and presenting Chris as a caricature of national Republicans, so we presented the “real” Chris – a compassionate and thoughtful conservative leader, laser focused on local issues like job creation, local public safety, and New Hampshire’s opioid crisis.

In November, while Republicans lost both New Hampshire’s electoral college votes and the race for U.S. Senate, Chris Sununu emerged victorious by over two percentage points, making him the youngest Governor in America.